‘Where illegal ebikes go to die’: first bikes seized under new laws in NSW crushed

• Acting UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Ramiz Alakbarov reported that Palestinians in Gaza are seeking a return to normal life. • The UN is currently working to overcome major challenges regarding humanitarian access, the restoration of essential services, and reconstruction efforts.

• UN teams are working to protect families in Gaza from the upcoming rainy season as of Wednesday. • UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric reported that restricted land access and shortages of critical supplies are hindering these protection efforts.

• Jewish settlers are seizing and destroying Palestinian property in an escalating campaign of violence across the West Bank. • The Israeli authorities are actively supporting these efforts to dispossess Palestinians of their land.

• King Felipe VI described the migration crisis in Ceuta as unacceptable two months after the events occurred. • The situation was contained without escalating into an open diplomatic confrontation between Spain and Morocco.

Greens sources say the relationship between new leader David Shoebridge and runner-up Mehreen Faruqi is seriously strainedSarah Hanson-Young has spoken out about major divisions in the Greens party room, offering support to newly elected leader David Shoebridge and describing politics as “brutal”.The South Australian senator contested Wednesday’s leadership ballot, finishing behind Shoebridge and outgoing deputy leader, Mehreen Faruqi. Continue reading...

Fears that US borrowing costs are unsustainable drive Britain’s 30-year bond yield to level not seen since 1998Business live – latest updatesThe turmoil in global bond markets intensified on Thursday amid fears that the US deficit is reaching unsustainable levels, helping drive UK long-term borrowing costs to a 28-year high.The threat of a renewed round of inflation from the persistently high cost of oil has spooked investors, who believe central banks will be forced to raise rates in the coming months to prevent price increases from becoming embedded. Continue reading...

Tories suggest ‘tough love’ approach amid issue of one million young people not in employment, education or trainingGood morning. The Conservatives start their conference at the weekend and Kemi Badenoch is kicking off proceedings by announcing a significant plan for welfare reform – stopping many under-25s from being able to claim universal credit, the main unemployment benefit.Instead, they would get a new Get to Work Allowance – which would be subject to conditions from day one intended to help people find work. If after six months they are still out of work, they would go on to a new benefit, a Subsistence Allowance, worth just 70% of their previous claims.It’s unfair to the people who get up and go to work, having others earn more than them for not working. Even families on benefits know that the system is out of control. But no one wants to be the one to get off the treadmill first. We need to force that. Government has to do that.The Conservatives will require all 18-24 year olds who attempt to claim universal credit and who have not previously worked for a continuous period of 6 months to participate in a Get to Work scheme in exchange for welfare. Participants will receive a new ‘Get to Work Allowance’ which is contingent on their participation in the scheme. To be exempt from these requirements 18-24 year olds will have to demonstrate that they have previously been in continuous employment for a period of 6 months or more, for a minimum of 16 hours a week. Young people on UC who are not subject to work-related requirements, such as for health reasons or due to caring responsibilities, will be exempt.The programme would last up to six months. Participants could leave earlier if they secure a job, apprenticeship or qualifying education or training place. Continue reading...

Infrastructure damage reported in Kyiv and Odesa overnightRussia has continued its attacks on Ukraine overnight, with infrastructure damage reported in Kyiv and Odesa, among others.The latest attacks come as part of an air campaign against Ukraine’s energy grid, hitting power facilities and infrastructure ⁠around Kyiv and other regions in the ⁠heaviest combined attack on energy sites in ​months. Continue reading...

Time magazine list includes Australian communications minister after her efforts to take on big techThe federal communications minister, Anika Wells, has been named as one of Time magazine’s “world’s most influential rising stars” in recognition of her work on Australia’s under-16 social media ban and taking on big tech companies.Australia’s world-leading restrictions on social media for children, which came into force last year, have garnered international attention, with governments across Europe and Asia, and in some American states, enacting or proposing similar measures. Continue reading...

Prices fell by 0.2% month on month in September as average price of a home slipped to £274,251, says NationwideBusiness live – latest updatesAnnual house price growth halved in the UK last month, as economic uncertainty sparked by conflict in the Middle East continued to deter homebuyers.The average price of a British home rose 0.8% in the year to September to £274,251, according to Nationwide. That was half the rate recorded in August, when house prices grew 1.6% year on year. It also marked the slowest pace of home price growth since December last year. Continue reading...

Exclusive: ADHD UK may seek judicial review of West Yorkshire NHS integrated care board’s ‘unlawful’ policyADHD UK has threatened legal action against an NHS organisation over its decision to impose a minimum two-year wait for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism assessments.In a legal letter to West Yorkshire NHS integrated care board (ICB), seen by the Guardian, the charity alleges that the decision to force patients to wait at least two years for such assessments was unlawful and says it will seek a judicial review if the board fails to reverse the policy. Continue reading...